Iraqian Kurdistan

Iraqian Kurdistan is part of the photo project See People World. During a freelance photo journey I visited different places and listened to many scaring stories about the situation for the Kurds, both in Iraq and it's neighbouring countries. I also visited two syrian refugee camps in the north of Iraq. I noticed that I was welcomed. The people I met wanted to tell their stories. They wanted me to take photographs of them and they asked me to tell their stories further. In short, the conflict in Syria is a humanitarian catastrophe and the situation is still (2014) urgent for the people - especially for kids. This time I could not do more to help them than write articles, show the photos to the world and donate some money to the help organisations "UNHCR" and "Doctors without borders" that I experienced eased the life of the refugees on location. When purchasing images you make it possible for me to continue with similar projects.

Iraq Kurdistan Hamilton road 20130914
Eagle in the Ali Begg Valley,near the Gali Ali Beg Waterwall in the mountains on the famous Hamilton Road, close to the border of Iran and about 95 kilometres from Erbil
Photo Maria Langen / Sverredal & Langen AB

Iraq Kurdistan 20130915
Top of the mountains on the road of Kurdistan
Photo Maria Langen / Sverredal & Langen AB

Kurdistan Al-Kosh 20130913
Candles lit for a christing ceremony in the Mar Matti Monestary, the place where many pilgrims and Kurds go. Mar Matti Monastery is located at the top of the "upside down mountain" Jabal Maqlub in northern Iraq / Kurdistan (about 20 kilometers from Mosul and south from Dahuk). Dating back to the 4th century A.D Mar Matti was founded by the Syriac Christian Matti (Syriac for Matthew). He joined a mostly Nestorian population that had a small Syriac community. Using many of the caves on Jabal Maqlub as a temporary home, eventually the monastery was built to make life a little more comfortable. Under the leadership of Matti the community developed a monastic ethos. It is today recognized as one of the oldest Christian monasteries in existence.
Photo Maria Langen / Sverredal & Langen AB

Sulymaniyah 20130916
Guard at the Red Security Museum (Amna Suraka). The museum is known as the Red Security due to the red color of the security building used by the Baath regime (Saddam Hussein). Part of the prison describes torture and death. The site has partly been kept as it was when a kurdish resistance group took it over1991.
Photo Maria Langen / Sverredal & Langen AB

Kurdistan Al-Kosh (MarMattai) 20130913
Girls visiting the Mar Matti Monastery. So do many pilgrims and Kurds and a few tourist every year. THe girls are dressed up for a christening ceremony.
Mar Matti Monastery is located at the top of the "upside down mountain" Jabal Maqlub in northern Iraq / Kurdistan (about 20 kilometers from Mosul and south of Dahuk). Dating back to the 4th century A.D Mar Matti was founded by the Syriac Christian Matti (Syriac for Matthew). He joined a mostly Nestorian population that had a small Syriac community. Using many of the caves on Jabal Maqlub as a temporary home, eventually the monastery was built to make life a little more comfortable. Under the leadership of Matti the community developed a monastic ethos. It is today recognized as one of the oldest Christian monasteries in existence.

Kurdistan Amediya 20130914
One of the approx 5000 inhabitants in Amediya (Amediyah, Amadia, Amedi, al-Amadiyah). People living here are generally very friendly with visitors, so is this man. The town is perched on a mountain north of Dohuk. It is described as the village in the clouds, as it is built on a high plateau about 1200 metre above sea level. It was built over 1000 years ago.
Photo Maria Langen / Sverredal & Langen AB

Iraq Kurdistan Amediya 20130914
View of Amadiya (Amediyah, Amadia, Amedi, al-Amadiyah) perched on a mountain north of Dohuk. Amediya is described as the village in the clouds, as it is built on a high plateau about 1200 metre above sea level. It was built over 1000 years ago and is still home to 5000 inhabitants.
Photo Maria Langen / Sverredal & Langen AB

Kurdistan Amediya 20130914
Book in the Amediya mosque. Amadiya (Amediyah, Amadia, Amedi, al-Amadiyah) is a small town perched on a mountain north of Dohuk. Amediya is described as the village in the clouds, as it is built on a high plateau about 1200 metre above sea level. It was built over 1000 years ago and is still home to 5000 inhabitants.
Photo Maria Langen / Sverredal & Langen AB

Kurdistan Amediya 20130914
Books in the Amediya mosque.Amadiya (Amediyah, Amadia, Amedi, al-Amadiyah) is a small town perched on a mountain north of Dohuk. Amediya is described as the village in the clouds, as it is built on a high plateau about 1200 metre above sea level. It was built over 1000 years ago and is still home to 5000 inhabitants.
Photo Maria Langen / Sverredal & Langen AB

Kurdistan Amediya 20130914
Digital development in the Amediya mosque. Amadiya (Amediyah, Amadia, Amedi, al-Amadiyah) is a small town perched on a mountain north of Dohuk. Amediya is described as the village in the clouds, as it is built on a high plateau about 1200 metre above sea level. It was built over 1000 years ago and is still home to 5000 inhabitants.
Photo Maria Langen / Sverredal & Langen AB

Sulymaniyah 20130916
Red Security Museum (Amna Suraka).The museum is known as the Red Security due to the red color of the security building used by the Baath regime (Saddam Hussein). Part of the prison describes torture and death at that the time. The site has partly been kept as it was when a kurdish resistance group took it over1991.
Photo Maria Langen / Sverredal & Langen AB

Sulymaniyah 20130916
Mirrors and ligths in the Red Security Museum (Amna Suraka). About 4500 lights in the ceiling represent the villages and about 192 000 pieces of mirror fragments on the wall represent each and every person killed. The museum is known as the Red Security due to the red color of the security building used by the Baath regime (Saddam Hussein). Part of the prison describes torture and death at that the time. The site has partly been kept as it was when a kurdish resistance group took it over1991.
Photo Maria Langen / Sverredal & Langen AB

Sulymaniyah 20130916
Car wreck at the Red Security Museum (Amna Suraka).The museum is known as the Red Security due to the red color of the security building used by the Baath regime (Saddam Hussein). Part of the prison exhibits torture and death at that the time. The site has partly been kept as it was when a kurdish resistance group took it over1991.
Photo Maria Langen / Sverredal & Langen AB

Sulymaniyah 20130916
Red Security Museum (Amna Suraka).The museum is known as the Red Security due to the red color of the security building used by the Baath regime (Saddam Hussein). Part of the prison describes torture and death at that the time. The site has partly been kept as it was when a kurdish resistance group took it over1991.
Photo Maria Langen / Sverredal & Langen AB

Sulymaniyah 20130916
Guard at the Red Security Museum (Amna Suraka). The museum is known as the Red Security due to the red color of the security building used by the Baath regime (Saddam Hussein). Part of the prison exhibits torture and death at that the time. The site has partly been kept as it was when a kurdish resistance group took it over1991.
Photo Maria Langen / Sverredal & Langen AB